A Dunedin demolition worker has pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder after the death of Ryan John Court in Craft Bar on April 17.

Stephen Anthony Fernyhough, 25, was initially charged with assaulting Court, after the victim was found fatally wounded in a toilet of the Octagon bar and later died. The charge was upgraded to murder.

Fernyhough appeared briefly on the murder charge in the Dunedin District Court this morning and was ordered to reappear on May 20.

Court, who had gone to the Craft Bar with others, was found injured and unconscious in the toilet area about 1.45am, according to reports at the time of the incident.

Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful and he died at the scene.

About 60 people were in the bar at the time.

Police said at the time that they did not believe Court interacted with other bar patrons before he was fatally assaulted, and were not looking for a weapon in relation to the incident.